Harp Stories. New Music. Encouragement.
I am always getting ideas. My brain likes to churn out ideas when I am trying to go to sleep, or as I am rehearsing, or when I am gardening. …I have learned I need those moments of deep quiet just to sit and be and wander. For me, life itself, this world and all of its oddities, bumps, and beauties is a constant source of inspiration. All you have to do is be still and observe.
When I was studying music, perfectionism was the air I breathed, a deeply ingrained cultural standard worked into the very structure of our education. There were winners, and there were losers. … A perfectionist never sees themselves as good enough, and I began to see myself as unworthy. ….When I am mindful, I try to perform with an attitude of kindness towards myself.
The minute you start gigging, you suddenly realize that a very important part of your work is talking to people. But spending many hours a day locked in a practice room does not prepare you for the human side of performance. If anything, it reinforces all our introverted impulses. Here’s a few of the things people say, and my suggestions for gracious responses.
